Rural crime declining, 'but no time for complacency'

There has been a decline in rural crimes such as vehicle and livestock theft, according to rural insurers NFU Mutual.

The trend, based on insurance claims lodged throughout 2014, shows an overall decrease in these types of rural crime, in most parts of the country.

For some areas however, and for some items, crime has remained stubbornly high and, in some instances, increased.

Claims figures compiled by NFU Mutual show that;

- While livestock theft continued to rise in early 2014, in the last quarter it showed a marked decline

- Despite a national reduction in thefts of vehicles and livestock in rural areas, in several regions it has continued to rise

- Vehicle theft remains a major issue, with quad bikes claims in particular having risen

Tim Price, Rural Affairs Spokesman at NFU Mutual, said: “That we are seeing an overall decline in rural crime is great news for our rural communities and shows that the efforts being made to increase security and awareness around rural crime are really paying dividends.

"Collaboration between police forces and other agencies has been key to this success and we will continue to work with our partners to bring down rural crime.

“It’s great news, but we aren’t for a moment suggesting rural criminals has been beaten. Sadly thieves don’t go away. They change tactics, seek new targets, and find ways to overcome security technology. So we must work together to keep one step ahead of the criminals, and encourage farmers and country dwellers to regularly review their vehicle, livestock, farmyard and domestic security precautions.”

Clive Harris, Agricultural Vehicle Specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “Increasing awareness of security amongst manufacturers and consumers is now starting to have a real impact on rural crime.

"Nevertheless there is more than can be done, forensics are an increasingly valuable tool which are all too often ignored. But to ignore the potential of forensics to save money is a false economy, and an easy way for criminals to move from one crime to another with impunity, generating ever more costs in terms of crime reporting and investigating.”